Hair curling and drying apparatus



Patented Aug. 5, 1941 HAIR CURLING AND DRYING APPARATUS Abbie G. Bowyer, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-fourth to Samuel E. Fonts, Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application August 26, 1938, Serial No. 226,930

2 Claims.

This application relates, generally, to hair-curling and drying apparatus. In my Patent No. 2,144,714, dated January 24, 1989, I have disclosed and claimed a new type of hair-curler, the same consisting of a hollow box-like casing made in two relatively rotatable parts. The tress of hair is drawn into the casing in the direction of the hair roots and is wound about a central axis. The space within the curler is narrow and the tress is wound in a plurality of superimposed layers, being thus compacted within the casing. The hair is preferably and almost universally moistened before curling, and it should be thoroughly dried before it is released from the curler. More specifically, my present invention relates to an apparatus for use with my said new type of curler for drying the tress in a short time and in perfect safety to the patron and to the operator.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown of modifications and I desire it to be understood that the claims hereto appended are not intended to be limited to the details specifically disclosed any farther than their terms require.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a suitable apparatus to which my heaters with their respective curlers may be operatively attached, parts being broken away to conserve space and to show the transformer in the base; Fig. 2 is a view showing one side of one of the plugs and the electrical connections therefor; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the heaters, a partof the same being broken away to reveal the curler therein; Fig. 4 is a view showing the interior of the heater with the heating element therein before the latter is embedded; Fig. 5 is a view of the outer or rear side of the heater showing the electrical connections thereon; Fig. 6 is a central sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 drawn to a somewhat larger scale; Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuits, and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a heat-insulation member to prevent the burning of the scale or face.

In Fig. 1, H3 is the base of a stand or frame upon which the heaters are supported. Removably attached to the base is an upright standard member H, at the upper end of which a coupling I 2 is secured. The member H projects into a socketed boss 53 on the base and is held therein by a set-screw l4. Projecting into the coupling 12 and held by another set-screw I5, is a bent pipe I6, forming a goose-neck structure. To the end of this pipe is attached a dome-shaped head [1, through the cylindrical perimeter of which extend a plurality of pairs of sockets l8 and I9, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Extending upwardly through the standard members II and i6 is a pair of electrical conductors 20 and 2|. These conductors are best seen in the diagrammatic view, Fig. '7, from which it will be seen that the conductor 20 terminates in a conducting ring 22 and the conductor 2| terminates in a similar ring 23. These rings are coaxial and are spaced apart within the head H. In Fig. 2 is shown one, or part of one, of the electric plugs. It is made up of a pair of symmetrical side members of insulating material which are held together by screws or bolts, 24. The member 25, of Fig. 2, may be considered the rear member of the plug. It is shown at the left in Fig. 1. The other member is shown at the right in Fig. 1 and is designated 26. These members are provided with registering and connected grooves in their contacting faces in which plug terminals 2'! and 28 are mounted and from which they are projected. When these terminals are inserted into a pair of sockets l8 and E9, the terminals establish electrical connections with the respective rings 22 and 23, as is indicated in Fig. '7. The terminals are connected with wires which are extended upwardly from the plug, are bent over and are carried downwardly through the plug. For some distance below the latter, these wires are sheathed in a tube 29 of insulation which frictionally engages with the aperture through the plug, thus to hold the lower ends of the wires at any height to which they may be adjusted, for a purpose hereinafter stated.

All of the structure thus far described is old and, per se, is no part of my invention. It does enter into the general combination, however, since it supports the heaters. There may be any number of the plugs and their sockets, and a sumcient number of them will be employed to lead currents in circuits in parallel relation from the rings 22 and 23 to the maximum number of heaters used. As far as I am aware, supportnig stands of the nature of that described are supplied with current direct from an incandescent lamp circuit, say at 110 volts. Such a voltage is excessive for my heaters. Consequently, a stepdown transformer Ed is mounted, preferably, in the base if as shown. This transformer is indicated in Fig. 7, the primary coil SI of which is in circuit with wires 52 leading to a lighting circuit and the secondary coil 33 is in circuit with the wires 26 and 2! of the heater circuit. A suitable switch ti l is interposed in the primary circuit for cutting off the current when desired. This may be placed in any position where it is convenient. As shown, it is on the base where it can be actuated by the foot of the operator.

The curler, to which reference has been made, is shown, in edge view, at 35 in Figs. 3 and 6. In side elevation, it is round. In actual size, it is slightly larger than is shown in Fig. 3, being a little less than an inch in diameter and about a half inch in thickness. As indicated, the tress 36 enters the curler at the side near the hair roots. It is wound in a spiral about a central post within the curler. A suiiicient amount of hair is gathered into the tress to fill tightly the interior of the curler when the tress is fully drawn into it, as is disclosed in my said application. Before curling, the tress is well moistened.

After the curling operation is completed, the

curler is filled with a compact mass of wet hair which is wound about the central post and about itself in superimposed layers. When this mass of hair is thoroughly dried, the curler is easily removed. The tress, having been formed under pressure, long retains the curl.

The drier comprises a casing member 3? which is a c 'l'ndrical shell with a partition 33. The

walls of the shell outside the partition are made as thin and light as practicable, and the space within them is such as to receive the curler with a snug fit. On the outer side of the shell are secured one or more resilient detents 39, which are projected through corresponding apertures in the shell to engage the curler 35 frictionally and be held thereto. With the curler held by the tress, it is an easy matter to push the shell over it, where it will be held by the detents Between the curler and the partition 38 is the heating element. This consists of a helical wire of such a gage as will become heated when the electrical current is passed through it. It may be made of any material that is suitable for the purpose. To obtain the necessary length, the element is bent about as is shown in Fig. 4, suitable arc-shaped bafiles or flanges 4d being projected from the partition to provide channels within which the element is laid. The helical wire is shown at At 42 and G3 are small apertures through the partition 33 through which the ends of the wire are passed to be attached to suitable binding posts on the rear side of the partition. To prevent the helical wire from springing out of the channels and. particularly to prevent the wire from contacting the curler and thus becoming shcrt-circuited, it is embedded in a suitable cement, preferably one containing material content of asbestos fiber. This cement not only fills the channels about the helix but forms a coating of substantial thickness between the heating element and the curler. The material of the shell and partition must be highly heat-resistant. Various materials have been tried. Thus far, the most satisfactory substance is porcelain, although its weight is objectionable in some degree. Experiments are still under way and it is to be understood that I do not limit the invention to the use of porcelain. Up to the present, it is the most satisfactory of the materials used.

At the rear of the partition 38, the shell is threaded interiorily at 46 to receive a cap 4?. This cap is hollowed out in front to provide a space surrounding the binding post 44 and the ends of the heating element. At its rear side the cap is provided with a tubular extension 48 which terminates in a knob 49. Through the extension and knob extend the leading-in wires and 5H which extend to the respective plug 26.

As has been stated, the tress is thoroughly wetted before it is curled. That makes it possible to compact the hair within the curler which results in a more satisfactory and a more lasting curl. However, the wetter the hair, the longer it takes to dry. The water is converted into steam which issues from th apertures in the curler. Some of that from the rear may pass through the apertures 62 and 43 into the space within the cap 47. This steam may escape through the extension 43 and knob 49. It is obvious that the shell 37 and the cap will become too hot to handle with comfort; and that is the object in providing the extension and knob. They are far enough away from the heating element to remain relatively cool. No discomfort is felt, therefore, when the operator grasps the knob to pull the heater away from the curler or in tilting the heater and curler in testing for steam issuing from the curler. As long as moisture remains in the hair within the curler, some steam will be emitted, although it may not be apparent to the eye. I test for steam by inserting a small mirror between the curler and the scalp. A mirror such as is used by dentists in examining teeth in search of cavities serves my purpose very well indeed. However, the curler is close to the scalp and it frequently is necessary to tilt the heater and curler in order to insert the mirror. In so tilting, the hot curler is liable to contact and burn the scalp. To prevent this possible contact, I provide the shield 52, which is shown in side elevation in Fig. 8. It is a relatively thin disk of any suitable material having a deep notch 53. This notch extends from the peripheral edge of the shield diametrically and almost to the opposite edge, leaving a relatively narrow neck at 54. The sides of the notch are tapered, as shown. While the shield is preferably circular in form, it may be of any other shape so long as it performs its function. It is inserted between the curler and the scalp with the tress within the notch, as is indicated in Fig. 6. In testing for moisture in the tress, the mirror is inserted between the curler and the shield with its polished face toward the curler. Any steam coming from the curler will show in spots of condensed vapor on the mirror. When such spots cease to appear, the hair is dry and the current may be switched off.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an incandescent lamp bulb at 53 which is connected across the rings 22 and 23, as indicated in Fig. 7. This is a feature of the stand which I have chosen to illustrate as the support for my heaters and no claim is made for it as a part of my invention.

One complete job of curling may require one number of curlers while another job may require a different number. In any case, there must be a sufiicient number of heaters for all the curlers used. In many jobs, therefore, there will be some heaters which are not used. These unused heaters may be detached and hung over a bar 54, or other member, on the stand and thus be prevented from interfering with the operator.

This bar is also an old feature of the stand shown and is not claimed as my invention.

When a heater has been applied to a curler the operator slides the tube 29 sheathing the wires 50 and 5| upwardly through the plug 26 far enough to take up practically all the weight of the heater. Since some jobs of curling require a large number of heaters, this feature relieves the patron from the support of a substantial Weight.

Having disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a heater comprising a hollow shell of material which is a non-conductor of electricity, a partition member extending across the interior of the shell intermediate the ends thereof, a heating element attached to one side of said partition member, electric conductors connected with said element and extended through the partition to the opposit side thereof, means through which electric current is supplied to said conductors, that end of the shell which is opposite the latter means containing said heating element and being adapted to fit about a hair curler within said end of the shell, and a resilient detent for engaging the curler when the heater is slipped over it, whereby the heater and the curler are maintained in their proper positions.

2. In a device of the character described, a heater comprising a hollow, rigid shell, a transverse wall extending across the shell leaving one of its ends open, a heating element attached to one side of said transverse wall, electric conductors connected with said element and extended through the said wall to the opposite side thereof, means through which electric current is supplied to said conductors, that open end of the shell which is opposite the latter means containing said heating element, the space within said open end being cylindrical with a diameter greater than its length and being adapted to fit about a hair curler within said space, and a resilient detent secured to said shell and adapted to engage with the curler when within said space, whereby the curler and heater are held in their proper positions.

ABBIE G. BOW'YE'R. 

